ThinkComputers Holiday 2011 Staff Wish List

This year, the ASUS Transformer Prime tablet is at the top of the list (and a pricey list it is this year). This 10″ tablet runs the quad-core Tegra 3 SoC and has 1 GB of memory. Its 8 megapixel camera can do 1080p video recording. Like its predecessor, a dock transforms the tablet into a netbook. Transformer, get it now? The dock contains a spare battery that extends battery life by charging the tablet portion. It’s not just the hardware I like, though. Mobile devices thrive on applications! I’ve preferred Android since the release of the T-Mobile G1 in 2008; I’m deeply invested financially and philosophically in the openness of Android application ecosystem. I have a budding interest in Android gaming, as it’s continues to improve. OnLive brought its service to Android and I played Lego Batman on it a few nights ago, and it proved to be a worthwhile medium.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus

My beloved Nexus One is starting show its age. I’m constantly fighting with apps to reclaim storage space. My girlfriend picked up an HTC Sensation 4G a few months ago and I’m jealous of her 4G network speeds. I choose the Samsung Galaxy Nexus to replace it. Its dual core TI OMAP processor powers the first phone released with Android 4.0. It has a true 720p display, 5 megapixel rear camera, and lots of other great hardware features power the operating system I love for the same reasons I outlined previously. There’s almost bad about the next in the line of stock Android devices, except perhaps the camera, which has been really about the only part of the device to receive lackluster reviews (I’m OK with it because I rarely use the camera). I unfortunately might be waiting a few months until it appears on my preferred carrier, T-Mobile, or importing from abroad.

Linksys E4200 Router

My ASUS WL-500W wireless router is aging, as it’s only draft-N. I’d like something newer, hotter, and capable of the highest speeds available now. I find this in a Linksys E4200 wireless router. This dual-band router is one of the most feature-packed home gateways out there, with a 450 MHz processor and 64 MB of RAM. Its 5Ghz band can do 450 Mbps, while its 2.4 GHz band can do 300 Mbps. For wired connectivity, it has four gigabit Ethernet ports. Best of all, it can run DD-WRT, transforming this prosumer router into an enterprise router. It also has a USB port useful for quick network storage or printer sharing.

ASUS WL-330N3G Travel Router

I do a lot of travel for my day job and frequently take several devices with me: my personal laptop, my work laptop, my phone, and if I get my way, the Transformer Prime tablet will join me next year! With all these devices I use actively when I’m traveling, it would be nice to have a router I could use. Behold, the ASUS WL-330N3G travel router. Wired, 3G, and wireless connectivity bring it all together. I’d be most often using the Wireless Account Sharing feature, especially now that Southwest Airlines has in-flight WiFi on many of its flights.

Kingston HyperX 240GB Solid State Drive

I expect to build a new gaming rig in February or March, in time for the northeastern LAN scene to spin up (including ThinkComputers sponsoree Pittsburgh LAN Coalition’s Iron Storm XIII). I’ll need a larger SSD this time around, and I’m likely to go for the Kingston HyperX 240 GB SSD. The performance is stellar and the price is on par for something of that size.